US20040230992A1 - Method and apparatus for displaying video clips - Google Patents

Abstract

A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program related information such as television program listings from a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time or stored video clip images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window. All the text of the background information lies outside the PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program from the display of current television program listings by means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program automatically appears in the PIP window.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/715,782, filed Sep. 19, 1996, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/475,395, filed Jun. 7, 1995, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/424,863, filed Apr. 17, 1995, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/369,522, filed Jan. 5, 1995, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/312,863, filed Sep. 27, 1994, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/298,997, filed Aug. 31, 1994, now abandoned. This application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/066,666, filed May 27, 1993. The disclosures of these applications are incorporated fully herein by reference.[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to the field of television and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for simultaneously displaying video programs and related text on a television screen.[0002]
• For a number of years television receivers have been equipped with picture-in-picture (PIP) capability. In PIP format, the moving, real time images of one television channel are displayed on the background of the screen and the moving, real time images of another television channel are displayed in a PIP window overlaid on a small area of the background. Because two channels are simultaneously displayed by the television receiver, two tuners are required. The viewer enters the PIP mode by pressing a PIP key of his or her controller. Then, the viewer can change either the channel of the background or the channel of the PIP by resetting the appropriate tuner. To reverse the background and PIP images, the viewer simply presses a SWAP key. To collapse the PIP window, the viewer again presses the PIP key.[0003]
• Television program guides help television viewers select programs to watch. Such television program guides list the available television programs by day of the week, time of day, channel, and program title. For many years television program guides have been published in hard copy form. More recently as illustrated by Levine U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,713, television program guides have begun to take an electronic form. In other words, the schedule of program listings is stored in an electronic memory connected to the television receiver. The program listings are recalled from memory by the viewer on command for display on the television screen.[0004]
• Despite the prevalence of television program guides, many viewers still make their program selections by switching the television tuner from channel to channel and observing on the screen what program is being received on the respective channels. This process is sometimes called “surfing”.[0005]
• Emanuel U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,019 discloses an automated form of channel surfing. A preselected group of channels are sequentially scanned by switching the tuner of the television receiver from channel to channel. A still image of the program received on each channel is stored in a memory. After all the channels have been scanned, the still images from all the channels are simultaneously displayed on the television screen. This process gives the viewer more information about the program choices in addition to that obtainable from a television program guide, namely, the displayed still images of the actual programs.[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• According to the invention, the moving images of a video clip or preview of a future television program are displayed in a PIP window on the screen of a television monitor and future television program listings from a program schedule data base are displayed in the background on the screen. Preferably, the audio portion of the television program displayed in the PIP window is also reproduced by the sound system of the television monitor. The textual information is arranged on the screen so none of it is covered by the moving images. When a future program listing on the screen is marked with a cursor, the corresponding video clip is retrieved and displayed in the PIP window. If the user wishes to receive the telecast program previewed by the video clip, a command is issued to retrieve the time and channel of the program from the data base and to set the television tuner to the channel and time that the program is telecast. If desired, the transaction could be recorded for billing purposes.[0007]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The features of specific embodiments of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:[0008]
• FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a television receiver that has an electronic television program guide incorporating the principles of the invention;[0009]
• FIGS.[0010]2 to4 are television screens formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1; and
• FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a remote controller for operating the electronic program guide of FIG. 1.[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
• In a preferred embodiment, the invention displays information about television program schedules and content in a tripartite electronic television program guide. One screen format is a time specific program guide (TISPG); another screen format is a channel specific program guide (CSPG); and the third screen format is a theme specific program guide (THSPG). In each case, video clips of television program to be telecast in the future are displayed in real time in a PIP window.[0012]
• With reference to FIG. 1, a source of television signals,[0013]10 such as a terrestrial antenna or a cable drop is connected to atelevision tuner11. The output oftuner11 is a modulated intermediate frequency signal containing video and audio television information.Tuner11 is connected by an intermediate frequency amplifier (IF AMP)12 to a picture detector (PICTURE DET)13 and a sound detector (SOUND DET)14, which produce base band video and audio signals, respectively, and to one input of aswitch21. Video clips relating to future telecast programs are stored in alaser disk player17. SOUND DET14 is connected to one input of a switch18a.The audio output ofdisk player17 is connected to the other input of switch18a.PICTURE DET14 is connected to one input of a switch18b.The video output ofdisk player17 is connected to the other input of switch18b.The audio signal at the output of switch18ais coupled by a sound amplifier (SOUND AMP)15 to aloudspeaker16. The video signal at the output of switch18bis coupled by a video amplifier not shown to one input of a conventional picture-in-picture (PIP) integratedcircuit chip19.Sound detector14 andpicture detector13 could also be connected to the audio and video inputs, respectively, of a video cassette recorder, not shown, to enable the viewer to record telecast programs. The output ofPIP chip19 is connected to one input of aswitch21. IF AMP12 is connected to the other input ofswitch21. The output ofswitch21 is coupled to the video and audio inputs of a television receiver or monitor (TV)20 having a screen (not shown).Loudspeaker16 could be part ofTV20.
• An updatable data base of the schedule of program listings of all the available channels for a prescribed period of time, e.g. a day or a week, is electronically stored in a[0014]program schedule memory22. These program listings typically include for each program the title, a program description, the day of the week, the start time of the day, the program length, and the channel on which the program is transmitted and thus available for reception atsource10. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the period of time for which the program listings are stored is different for the guides, depending upon viewer priorities and preferences. For example, the information needed to display the TISPG and CSPG may be stored for one or two days and the information needed to display the TSPG may be stored for a week or more. The data base can be updated by a continuous data link in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of one television channel telecast to the television receiver in well known fashion. Alternatively, the data base can be updated by unpluggingmemory22 and replacing it with a memory having the updated data base.Memory22 is connected to amicroprocessor24 that is programmed to control the operation of the described equipment. An operating program formicroprocessor24 is stored in a read only memory (ROM)26. Aviewer input device28, preferably in the form of a remote IR controller, is coupled tomicroprocessor24 to provide commands from the viewer. Avideo processor30 is coupled tomicroprocessor24. When the viewer wishes to see television program listings,microprocessor24 recalls a portion of the program schedule data base frommemory22 and couples it tovideo processor30, where the program listings are formatted for display. Preferably, the information stored invideo processor30 is a bit map of what is displayed on the screen oftelevision receiver20.Video processor30 is connected to the other input ofPIP chip19. Preferably,viewer input device28controls microprocessor24 by cursor movement on the screen oftelevision receiver20. To this end,microprocessor24 andvideo processor30 are coupled to acursor position register32. (Alternatively, the viewer can select items of information displayed on the screen by keying intoviewer input device28 code numbers assigned to these items.)Microprocessor24 is also coupled totuner11 for channel change, todisk player17 for play/record selection and start/stop, to switch18 for selection of one of its inputs, and toPIP chip19 for selection of the mode of PIP operation.
• The formats of the electronic program guide are shown in FIGS.[0015]2 to4. Each format has abackground area40 and an overlaidPIP window42 in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. The real time, i.e., 6:15 p.m., is displayed in a sub-area42aPIP window42.Background area40 includes a banner andmessage prompting area43 at the top of the screen, aprogram description area44 in the upper right-hand corner of the screen adjacent toPIP window42, and aprogram schedule area46 belowareas42 and44.Program description area44 includes the start time and length (duration) of the program being described. The viewer can move acursor48 vertically to highlight one of the program listings displayed inarea46. The highlighted background ofcursor48 and the background ofprogram description area44 are the same color or shade. In each format, video clips or previews of a television program to be telecast in the future are displayed inPIP window42 in the form of complete, moving images and the audio portion of the television program displayed inPIP window42 is reproduced by the sound system ofmonitor20. The information displayed inareas43,44, and46 varies depending upon the format, but in each case it relates to the television programs to be telecast in the future.
• One version of the TISPG screen format is shown in FIG. 2, namely a version that displays program listings of television programs being telecast at a future time. In the following description, this format is sometimes called the “NEXT” guide. The viewer can select the future time of the program listings to be displayed at intervals such as one-half hour. The selected future time, i.e., 8:00 p.m., for the program listings displayed in[0016]area46 is shown in a sub-area43aofarea43. A brief program description of the program listing highlighted inarea46 bycursor48 is displayed inarea44. A video clip of a program to be telecast in the future, namely the program represented by the program listing highlighted bycursor48, is displayed inPIP window42.
• In FIG. 3, the CSPG screen format is shown. In the following description, this format is sometimes called the “THIS CHANNEL” guide. All the program listings for a selected channel, i.e.,[0017]FOX Channel 7 or a pay-per-view (PPV) channel, are displayed inarea46, from the currently telecast program into the future for a specified time period, e.g., 24 hours or until the end of the next day.Area46 has a column for time and a column for program title; each line ofarea46 represents a separate program listing. A video clip of a program to be telecast in the future is displayed inPIP window42, namely the program represented by the program listing highlighted bycursor48. A brief program description of the highlighted program is displayed inarea44.
• In FIG. 4, the THSPG screen format is shown. In the following description, this format is sometimes called the “SORT” guide. The program listings for a selected theme or subtheme, i.e., ALL MOVIES, are displayed in[0018]area46, from the next telecast program into the future for a specified time period, e.g., one week.Area46 has a heading46athat identifies the theme or subtheme, date, and day, i.e.,ALL MOVIES DEC 12 MON, a column for title, a column for start time, and a column for channel name or number; each line ofarea46 represents a separate program listing. A video clip of a program to be telecast in the future is displayed inPIP window42, namely the program represented by the program listing highlighted bycursor48. A brief program description of the program highlighted bycursor48 is displayed inarea44.
• All four areas of[0019]background40 are formatted invideo processor30. The memory space ofvideo processor30 corresponding to the area in whichPIP window42 appears on the screen is left blank; i.e., although overlaid onbackground area40,PIP window42 does not cover up any of the information ofbackground area40. By means of a pair of up/down arrows onviewer input device28, the viewer can move acursor48 vertically to highlight the listing of one of the television programs displayed inarea46. Preferably, to reduce delays in displaying the program schedules, all the program listings for the particular screen format are stored invideo processor30, even though only a fraction of them are displayed at the same time. When the cursor reaches the top or bottom listing inarea46,microprocessor24 recalls further program listings fromvideo processor30 for display on the screen oftelevision receiver20.
• In all the formats, the video clips of the future television program highlighted by[0020]cursor48 are displayed inPIP window42, the program description of the highlighted program is displayed inarea44, program listings of one type or another are displayed inarea46, and one or more prompts are displayed inbanner area43. The audio portion of the television program displayed inPIP window42 is reproduced by the sound system ofmonitor20. The PIP display, the sound reproduction, and the program description inarea44 enable the viewer to assess better whether or not to watch the highlighted program. Reference is made to FIG. 5 for a further description of the operation of the described system.Viewer input device28 preferably takes the form of a hand-held remote infrared (IR) transmitter which communicates with an infrared receiver connected tomicroprocessor24. The IR transmitter has ahousing50 on which a number of control buttons are mounted. A GUIDE/TV button52, anINFO button54, and aPURCHASE button56 are located above up and downarrow buttons58 and60. A row ofbuttons62,64,66 and68 which marked with the colors red (R), green (G), yellow (Y), and blue (B), respectively, underlie downarrow button60. Red, green, yellow, and blue prompts are displayed inarea43 of the electronic guides. To select a prompt on the screen, the button of the IR transmitter having the corresponding color is pressed, i.e., to select the blue prompt on the screen,blue button68 is pressed.
• As the viewer moves[0021]cursor48 vertically from program listing to program listing by operating up/downarrow buttons58,60, the video clip displayed inwindow42 and the program description displayed inarea44 automatically change accordingly to match the highlighted program inarea46. As the cursor moves from one program listing to another, the address of the video clip of the highlighted program listing is recalled from the data base inmemory22, the video clip is retrieved fromVCR17 at the recalled address and displayed inPIP window42,microprocessor24 recalls the program description for the highlighted listing fromprogram schedule memory22, andvideo processor30 formats this program description so it can be displayed inarea44.
• Preferably, two levels of detail are available for the program description. Normally, the first level detail of the program description is displayed in[0022]area44 as described above. When more detail is desired, the viewer operatesinput device28 to display a second level detail of the program description. Specifically, the viewer pressesINFO button54. There are two options for the display of the second level detail. As one option, the second level detail can replace the first level detail inarea44. This has the advantage that the program listings can continue to be seen by the viewer while more detail about the program description is displayed. As the other option, the second level detail can replace the program listings inarea46. This has the advantage that more space is available to display the second level of detail than the first level.
• The invention can be used to great advantage to deliver PPV programs to television viewers. The video clips can be stored in[0023]disk player17 at the television receiver. In such case, switches18aand18bconnectdisk player17 to SOUNDAMP15 andPIP chip19. Alternatively, the video clips can be stored at the head end of a cable network that feeds the telecast video programs totuner11. In this case, switches18aand18bconnectSOUND DET14 to SOUNDAMP15 andPICTURE DET13 toPIP chip19. When the viewer highlights a program listing with the cursor, the channel number on which the video clip is being transmitted from the head end is recalled from the data base inmemory22 and the video clip is displayed in the PIP window. If the viewer decides to order the program represented by the video clip, the viewer presses the PURCHASE button. As a result, a command is issued bymicroprocessor24 to retrieve the time and channel of such program from the data base and to settuner11 to the channel and at the future time that the program is telecast. The program can be viewed in real time and/or time shifted by recording on a VCR. The transaction is then recorded for billing purposes.
• In the described guide mode, switch[0024]21 transmits the output ofPIP chip19 toTV20, instead of the output ofIF AMP12. In the TV mode, switch21 transmits the output ofIF AMP12 toTV20, instead of the output ofPIP chip19. The viewer can toggle back and forth between the guide and TV modes by repeatedly pressing GUIDE/TV button52.
• The need for scrambling PPV programs may be lessened or eliminated by the invention. Specifically, manual access to the PPV channels could be blocked, so the only way to set[0025]tuner11 to a PPV channel is to select the program listing from the guide of FIGS.2 to4, as described in the preceding paragraph.
• The described embodiments of the invention are only considered to be preferred and illustrative of the inventive concept; the scope of the invention is not to be restricted to such embodiment. Various and numerous other arrangements may be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the disclosed electronic guide features, including the techniques for navigating through the guide, can be used without displaying a real time image of a current television program.[0026]

Claims (13)

1. (Canceled)

2. A system for displaying a video clip for a television program upon viewer selection of a corresponding television program listing from a television program guide displayed on a display screen, comprising:

means for displaying the television program guide on the display screen;

means for allowing a viewer to select a television program listing from the television program guide; and

means for displaying a video clip corresponding to the selected television program listing on the display screen upon selection of the television program listing from the television program guide.

3. The system ofclaim 2 further comprising means for displaying a written description corresponding to the selected television program listing.

4. The system ofclaim 2 further comprising means for sequencing through time slots in the television program guide.

5. The system ofclaim 2 wherein the means for allowing a user to select a television program listing from the television program guide comprises means for allowing the user to position an on-screen cursor on the television program listing.

6. The system ofclaim 2 further comprising means for retrieving the video clip corresponding to the selected television program listing upon selection of the television program listing from the television program guide.

7. The system ofclaim 2 wherein the means for displaying the television program guide comprises means for displaying the television program guide comprising a plurality of television program listings.

8. A method for displaying a video clip for a television program upon viewer selection of a corresponding television program listing from a television program guide displayed on a display screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying the television program guide on the display screen;

allowing a viewer to select a television program listing from the television program guide; and

displaying a video clip corresponding to the selected television program listing on the display screen upon selection of the television program listing from the television program guide.

9. The method ofclaim 8 further comprising the step of displaying a written description corresponding to the selected television program listing.

10. The method ofclaim 8 further comprising the step of sequencing through time slots in the television program guide.

11. The method ofclaim 8 wherein allowing a user to select a television program listing from the television program guide comprises allowing the user to position an on-screen cursor on the television program listing.

12. The method ofclaim 8 further comprising retrieving the video clip corresponding to the selected television program listing upon selection of the television program listing from the television program guide.

13. The method ofclaim 8 wherein displaying the television program guide comprises displaying the television program guide comprising a plurality of television program listings.

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